Happenings and Progress in Australasia.
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By Our Own Correspondent.
Strike Benef-ts.
Queensland suffered earlier this year from a general strike, and, following the precedent of the strike in England last year, it brought a fillip to the commercial-motor industry. On a recent visit to the Northern capital, I was gratified to notice the interest that is being taken in commercial motors generally, and that this would have been translated into orders I have not the least doubt had the vehicles been there to deliver.
Brisbane's Trams Challenged.
I Was particularly interested in the developments being undertaken by a firm that undertook to provide Brisbane with a series of motorbus services. It will be remembered that the great strike originated amongst the tramway employees ; this led to considerable interest being taken in the one or two motorbuses plying for hire on the streets, and materially increased the takings in the few days they were running alone. In Brisbane, unlike other Australian capitals, the trains are run by a private company, with the result that motorbus licences are comparatively easily obtained. In a growing city like Brisbane, where tramway extension is not being undertaken, increasing scope for motor omnibuses is to be found in serving the outer suburbs not connected with the town by tramway services and railways.
At the time of my visit, the company was operating about eight vehicles, and the fleet is being added to as quickly as well can be. Amongst those running, I noticed one or two Albions, some Berliets, Leylands and Coromers, whilst some de Dions are coming forward, and, if rumour speaks truly, some old L.G.O. chassis are on order to build the fleet up to 20. A central site has been found for a garage— almost too central one might be pardoned for thinking, as it fronts on to a main thoroughfare and a large side turning as well. Here, garage accommodation for some 40 cars is provided.
Good Motorbus Prospects.
At the time of writing [The first portion of these notes have been unavoidably held for some weeks.— ED.], operations are carried on under difficulties, the repair shop being a shed and the garage an open yard. The cars used are the single-deck type ; they partly provide side entrance and rear entrance, and seat from 18 to 28 passengers. This concern is the first serious attempt in Australia to run a fleet of motorbuses, but one hears of other registrations, and in the course of time there will probably be quite a number of active motorbus companies in this great sub-continent. One of the latest of these projects comes from Tasmania, where a company with a nominal capital of 225,000 has recently been registered, and rumour has it that it is intended to run a good fleet of cars. In Victoria. since the Prahran Council condemned electric trams as obsolete, quite a number of schemes has been in the air, and there is strong reason to believe that more than one of these will come to
fruition. The prospects are undoubtedly encouraging. Rapid Increases.
Considering that three years ago there was but one commercial-motor vehicle in New South Wales, it is interesting to note that up to the moment of writing there are no fewer than 215, which speaks well for the development of the past three years. Of these, no fewer than 56 are of Albion manufacture. The Albion representatives are to be congratulated on attaining a sale of slightly over one-fourth of the whole. There is no doubt that these figures would have been greater, but for the difficulties in obtaining supplies ; still, as they are, they are very satisfactory.
Government Purchases.
It may be remembered that I have referred from time to time to commercial services with touring cars, which are conducted in various parts of the State, and particularly to several working in the district having Cooma for its centre. In certain directions, these have been more aftd more inadequate, and the Government recently decided to place two motorbuses to serve its own popular resort, Mount Kosciusko. The road is a particularlydifficult one, and in the 50 miles between the two places rises some 4000 ft., whilst in the course of that it has to traverse some hills known as Barney's Range. Being invited to inspect this road I did so, and, ignoring the question of surface, which always calls for careful consideration where Australian roads are concerned, I found that there were no fewer than 93 transverse water-courses to be crossed in the 50 miles. These are mostly deliberately cut, in making the road, to carry off storm waters without causing any damage to the road surface, but, as they cross the road at an angle, the strain placed on the entire car in crossing each of them may well be imagined.
Two three-ton Milnes-Daimlers have been purchased by the Government for this service, and one of them has for some little time been at work carrying goods for the hotel, pending the completion of its passenger body. At the time of writing, the car running is reported to be doing well, carrying its load easily, without having to resort at all to it bottom sneed. That speaks well for the car and its manufacture. These two cars will now have to enter into direct competition with the cars run by the private individuals who have previously maintained the service with touring ears, and it will be interesting tet see what the result will be. That is to say, whether the touring cars will be able to continue running against the business ones.
The Value of Privacy.
At first sight, one would not expect the touring cars to be able to continue in the face of such opposition, but it must be remembered that they will save nearly an hour on the journey, although more costly ; family parties will be able to travel by this means in privacy. Again, one cannot quite say what has come to be regarded as the correct thing in the matter, and there is no doubt that, if for any reason it is regarded as not correct to travel by the motorbus, there will remain plenty of patronage for the touring cars, although, what with the mails, intermediate and goods traffic, there will not be any question of ability to run the motorbuses at a profit.
Who Will Make Profits?
The motorbus is coming here, and its arrival will certainly never
be prevented, but it may be delayed. The weak spot in the armour is the gross incompetence and unwillingness to learn from experience, that have been and are being exhibited by those responsible for motorbus services. Some of these proprietors are "knowails " of the type that can never do wrong ; others in ignorance purchase cars unsuited, either as to make or size, for the work, and others again are earning such enormous revenues from their cars that they can afford to face enormous running costs. Some owners are of the ne'er-do-weel type, who go into anything new ; others have taken the vehicles up on spec, to use up spare capital. and others again are the type of countrymen, who, having owned and run a few coaches successfully, increasing from the one which they drove originally themselves. are now starting with motorbuses. These last, whilst deserving the respect of everybody, are naturally not receptive of new
ideas or new methods of working, being mostly content with those that have enabled them to amass the money they have earned with their coaches. However, we are progressing steadily, and the setbacks that are being met with from time to time are only to be expected at first, and have been duly foretold in the " C.M." from time to time.
Commers in W. A, The Armstrong Cycle and Motor Agency, of Perth, Western Australia, is finding the demand for passenger vehicles very brisk. In a recent letter to Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Luton .and London, this importing house, while sending the photograph which we reproduce, states that its owner, a Mr. Manley, recouped himself the whole cost of the machine within four months, solely by the fares which it earned. This is the first Commer chassis to be run in Western Australia, and it is shown in our illustration at the Albany race-course.